Multiconnection hydraulic cable



Dec. 20, 1932. E sx I 1,891,670

IULTIGONNBCTION HYDRAULIC. CABLE yi'iled Nov. 28. 1930 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Patented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITED :STATES PATENT orrlca HANS ERNST, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, .ASSIGNOIB,- TO THE CINCINNATI HILIING IACHINE COMPANY, 01' CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO MULTICONNEO'IION HYDRAULIC CABLE Application filed November 28, 1980. Serial No. 498,638.

This invention relates to fluid conveying devices and more particularly to a new and improved multiple channel hydraulic cable connector. a

Hydraulic machinery, in general, is usually composed of a power unit and an actuated unit, one of which is connected to the other by channels of a suflicient number to carry out the functions of the machine. For the convenience of manufacture and assembly these units may be built separately and afterwards assembled on a main structure to produce a complete operative machine. Since these units are usually spaced from one another, due to principles of design, the pipes must be extended from one tothe other, sometimes throu h narrow confined spaces involving a consi erable expenditure of time. Upondisassembly forrepairs or other reasons, it is, therefore, necessary to make a number, of pipe disconnections before one unit may be separated from the other. Furthermore, on reassembly, besides the necesalways the possibility of error, due to the number of pipes, which might result in damage to the machine upon starting up.

For these and sundry other reasons 1t is plurality of hydraulic transmission lines may be, simultaneously connected with their respective continuations thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification coni sidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawin illustrative of one embodiment thereo but it will be understood that any modifications may be made in the specific structural details hereinafter disclosed, within the scope of the appended claims,

sity of reconnecting all the pipes, there is mounted on the unit B for relative movement without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

- Referring to the drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing one application of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure '5 is a longitudinal section on the line 5'-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a detail end view as taken on 5 the line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view similar to Figure 5, showing a modified form of the invention.

Figure 8 is a sectional view showing an- 7 other form of the invention.

Figure 9 is a detail section on the line 99 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a connector.

Figure 11 is a section on the line 11--11 of Figure 10.

In Figure 1 the cable connector forming the y subject matter of this invention is shown for illustrative pur oses as connecting together two units A an B in which one of the units, such as the unit A, is detachably mounted on the unit B. It will be understood, of course, that'the unit A may instead be adjustably detail showing a rotatable thereon or the units may be physically separate and still be within the contemplation of this invention.

,The hydraulic connector comprises in general the cable portion 10 havin secured to each end thereof couplings 11. s more particularly shown in Figures 2 and 3, the cable portion 10 comprises a plurality of tubes 12 which may be of any desirable number grouped together in cylindrical form and surrounded b w an outer sheathing 13 of pressure resisting and leakroof material, such as woven metal hose. lach cou ling 11 is provided with a counter bore 14 1n which is received a ferrule 15 for enclosing the end of 100 the sheathing 13. Since the sheathing is preferably of woven metal it may be connected to the ferrule by soldering, brazing or other aflixing operation. The coupling is further provided with a plurality of bores 16 arcuately arranged, as shown in Figure 4. The enlarged space in the mouth of the ferrule permits the tubes to be spread out and a separate tube inserted in each bore 16 and suitably soldered or brazed therein. The bores 16 terminate in passages 17 at right angles thereto, each of which has a port 18 c0nnect- For convenience of manufacture a cross bar- 26 is mounted in a cross slot 27 formed in the end of the header andprovided with a threaded hole for receiving the lock bolt 22 wherebv upon tightening of the bolt the coupling will be firmly secured within the header. To facilitate disassembly a nut 28 is threaded on the coupling and adapted to bear against the face 29 of the header whereby upon rotation of the nut the coupling will be withdrawn from the header.

The annular grooves 19 make it possible to drill the radial outlets 30 at any point around the periphery of the header 23. A single outlet'is drilled for each annular groove and has its exterior end threaded to receive a coupling 31 by which the tube 32 is connected to the header. By this construction the tubes may be run from the header in a more direct manner eliminating sharp bends which might impede the flow of an hydraulic medium and also eliminates the necessity for accurately positioning the portion 20 cireumferentially in its bore which means that the cable may approach from any angle in its plane. From this construction it should also be apparent that if the header 23'were a part of a detachable unit hydraulically connected to a main unit and it became necessary to disassemble it therefrom that the termini of each pair of connected channels would be readily parted by loosening the bolt 22 and rotating the nut 28 after which the coupling 11 may be removed from the unit leaving it free to be removed from the main unit. To establish reconnection these operations would be repeated in reverse order. It is also to be noted that due to the predetermined sequence or positioning of the grooves 19 and the positioning of the corresponding orts in the header that either end of the cab e may be attached to a particular header and the remaining end attached to the other header.

A simplified form of this construction is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 in which the longitudinal channels 33. are each provided with a port 34 which extend radially in a single plane at right angles to the axis of the tapered portion 35 of the coupling 36. In such a construction it is necessary to accurately position the coupling angularly in its bore to insure that the radial ports 34 register with the radial outlets 37. This may be accomplished by providing a key, such as 38 or other suitable means, which will positively insure the proper angular position of the coupling .In some instances it may be necessary to make a connection directly to a wall or other flat surface and a construction such as shown in Figure 7 may be utilized in which the coupling is provided with a flat surface 39 adapted to abut the surface of a boss 40 with a suitable leak-proof gasket 41 interposed between the surfaces. The outlet channels 42 are arranged circumferentially around the axis of the connecting bolt 43 in a similar manner to the longitudinal channels 44 in the coupling and to insure correct registry of each channel with its outlet a dowel pin, such as 45, may be utilized to circumferentially position'the coupling on the boss.

As previously mentioned, it is sometimes necessary to maintain fluid connection between a. fixed unit and a movable unit and for this purpose a flexible connection may be utilized. By the use of known forms of flexible tubing of which the tubes 12 may be made, the cable 10 as a whole, may be given a certain amount of flexibilty. However, it

is not susceptible to sharp bends andto reduce the amount of bending an oscillating adjustable coupling has been provided, as shown more particularly in Figure 10, which is similar in construction to that shown in Figure 5. The coupling is provided, however, with adjusting nuts 46 threaded upon opposite ends of its tapered portion 20. The

nuts are provided with set screws 47 for locking them in position after the coupling has been longitudinally adjusted in its tapered bore to insure a reasonably leak-proof fit comatible with the .ability to be rotated in its 'ore without the expenditure of a great amount of force.

Attention is invited to the fact that in the illustrations in Figures 2, 3 and 5, each of the tubes in the cable has been connected to an individual tube in the coupling but since in many hydraulic systems there is usually a low pressure return line one of the tubes in the cable may be eliminated and the spaces around and in between the tubes, such as 48 in Figure 11, may be utilized for this low ressure return into which a low pressure ine, such as 49, in the cou ling may discharge. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the cable somewhat, as well as provide ing bending thereby adding to the flexibility of the cable.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it should now be apparent that a multiple channel cable connector has been provided which ma be utilized for running a plurality of hydrau ic transmission lines from one point to another, and which is especially adaptable for h draulicall connecting a removable hydrau ic unit with a main unit; or a unit that is movable upon another and which requires a flexible connection in order to permit such movement.

That'which is claimed is:

1. An hydraulic connector comprising a multi-channel cable, coupling means secured to the end of the cable, said coupling means comprising an elbow having a tapered shank, the channels of said cable terminating in out let ports formed in said shank, an associate member having a tapered socket for receiving the shank, outlet channels formed in the member registering with the ports of said elbow, means for securing the parts together to simultaneously establish flow communica-. tion between the individual ports. and the channels, and additional means for disassembling the parts, said last named means comprising an ejecting member threaded on said shank and'into engagement with said associate member.

2. In a device of the class described ,for coupling a plurality of diflerent pressure lines in one member with the respective continuations of said lines in a second member, the combination of headers ada ted to be fixed to each member having a p urality of ports therein, means to connect each line of the respective members with an individual port in the respective headers, channelmeans connecting together the ports of the respective headers com risin a cable formed of a plurality of flexi le tu s, a con ler secured to each end of the cable, a plura ity of ports formed in each coupler, means to connect the terminals of each tube with a port of "each cou ler and means to secure the couplers in the headers with their respective ports in registry whereby each line in one member will be simultaneously connected to its continuation in the second member.

3. In a device of the class described for coupling a plurality of different pressure lines in one member with the respective continuations of said lines in a second member, the combination of headers adapted to be fixed to each member having a plurality of ports therein, means to connect each line of the respective members with an individual portin the respective headers, channel means connecting together the ports of the respec-. tiveheaders com rising a cable formed of a plurality of flexi 1e tubes, a coupler secured to,each end of the cable, a plurality of ports formed in each coupler, means to connect the terminals of each tube with a port of each coupler, means to secure the couplers in the headers with their res ective ports in registry whereby each line in one member will be simultaneously connected to its continuation in the second member, said means comprising a clamping bolt passed thru one of said members and threaded in the other for drawing the parts together, and independent means 30 on each coupler toeflect its disconnection from its respective headers upon withdrawal of the clamping bolt.

4. An hydraulic connector for coupling a plurality of different pressure. lines in one member with the respective continuations of said lines-in a second member comprising the combination of headers adapted to be fixed to each member, said headers having a plurality of ports therein, means to connect each line of the respective members with an individual port in the respective headers, a flexible connector between the'headers comprising a plurality of tubes, a tubular fluid-tight sheave surrounding said tubes to form a cable havingintersticesbetween the tubes, a con ler secured to each end of the cable, a plura ity of ports formed. in each coupler, means to connect the terminals of each tube with a port in each header, one of said ports ineach eader communicating with the interstices between the tubes, and means to secure the couplers in the headers with their respective ports in registry whereby the tubes will serve to connect certain lines in one member with their continuations in the second member and the interstices will serve to connect an additional line in one member with its continuation in the other member.

5. An hydraulic connector for couplin 'a plurality of pressure lines in one member with the respective continuations of said lines in a second member spaced from the first comprising the combination of headers adapted to be fixed with'each member, said headers having a plurality of ports therein, means to connect each line of the respective mem-. bers with an individual portin the respective headers, a flexible connector between the less in number than the number of ports in a header, a tubular fluid-tight sheave surrounding said tubes to form a cable having interstices between the tubes, a coupler secured to each end of the cable, a plurality of ports formed in each coupler equal. in number to the ports in a header, one of said ports in each header communicating with the interstices between the tubes and means to secure the couplers in the headers with their respective headers comprising a plurality. of tubes one ports in registry whereby the tubes will serve to connect certain lines in one member with their continuations in the second member, and the interstices will serve to connect an additional line in one member with its respective continuation in the other member.

. 6. In a device of the class described for coupling a plurality of different pressure lines in one member with the respective continuations of said lines in a second member, the combination of headers adapted to be fixed to each member, each header having an axially tapered socket therein, a plurality of axially spaced ports intersectin said socket, means to connect each line of t e respective members with an individual port in the respective headers, a fiexible connector between the headers comprising a cable formed of a plurality of flexible tubes, a coupler secured to each end of the cable, said coupler having a tapered shank fitting the socket of said headers, a plurality of axially spaced annular grooves on the shanks adapted to register with the ports and said headers, means to connect the terminals of each tube with a groove in each coupler, and means to secure the shanks of the couplers in the sockets of the headers whereby each line in one member will be simultaneously connected to its continuation in a second member.

7. In a device of the class described for coupling a plurality of difierent pressure lines in one member with the respective continuations of said lines in a second member, the combination of headers adapted to be fixed toeach member, each header havin an axially ta ered socket therein, a plura ity of circum erentially spaced ports lying in thesame plane intersecting said socket, means to connect each line of the respective members with an individual port in t e respective headers, flexible channel means for connecting the headers comprising a cable formed of a plurality of flexible tubes, a coupler secured to each end of the cable, said coupler having a tapered shank fitting the socket of said headers, a plurality of radial ports formed in the shanks adapted to register with the ports and said headers, means to connect the terminals of each tube with a radial port in each coupler, and a locking bolt to secure the shanks'of the couplers in the sockets of the headers whereby each line in one member will be simultaneously connected to its continuation in the second member;

8. In a device of the class described for conpling)a plurality of hydraulic channels in 'one mem er with the respective continuations thereof in a second member remote from the first, the combination of multi-ported headers in. each member to the ports of which the respective channels are connected, means to connect the ports of one header with corresponding ports in the other header comprising a multi-tubed cable having couplers on each end thereof, the tubes in said cable terbe simultaneously connected to its continua-- tion in the second member.

9. In a device of the class described for coupling a plurality of hydraulic channels in one member to the respective continuations thereof in a second member the combination of multi-ported headers in each member, means to connect the respective channels to a respective port in the headers, each ,header having its ports arranged in a predetermined sequence, means to connect the ports of one header with the corresponding ports in the other header comprising a multi-tubed cable having couplers on each end thereof, the tubes in said cable terminating in ports in each coupler, the ports in each coupler being arranged in the same predetermined sequence and in ac- 

